Online courses on mental health – Suicide prevention

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Core content of the course: This online course covers issues related to suicidality and suicide prevention. The course provides basic information for anyone interested in the topic, while the more advanced material is intended especially for social services and healthcare professionals as well as students in these areas.

In THL’s Suicide Prevention online course, you will learn about factors influencing suicide risk and how to act when encountering a person at risk of suicide. The online course consists of five modules and an exam:

• Introduction
• Risk and protective factors behind suicide
• Suicide risk and its assessment
• Confronting and discussing with a suicidal patient
• Treatment of a suicidal patient
• Exam

The Introduction provides a brief background to the topic. The second module introduces risk factors for suicide as well as factors that protect against suicide risk. The third module offers tools for identifying suicide risk and assessing its severity.

The fourth module focuses on interaction and communication methods that can be used when working with a person at risk of suicide. You will also learn to recognize your own reactions and to consider the needs of the person’s close ones. The Treatment of a suicidal patient module discusses the care of a person at risk of suicide in primary healthcare and when specialist care is needed.

Course Duration and Scope

Completing one module takes approximately 50–120 minutes. The entire course takes about 4–4.5 hours. This is an estimate; actual study time depends on your pace, familiarity with the topic, and whether you explore the additional materials.

After passing the final exam (with at least 75% correct answers), you can print a certificate of completion. You may also choose to study only the themes that interest you. You can return to the course content at any time.

Important Information About the Training

THL offers two versions of the Suicide Prevention online course, each designed for a different target group:

• The general Suicide Prevention online course includes basic information for anyone interested in the topic, with advanced sections aimed at social and healthcare professionals. Its five modules are open to everyone.
• The Suicide Prevention for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professionals online course follows the same module structure but includes additional material available only to EMS students or professionals. Access requires a course key, which is provided only to EMS teachers, students, or professionals.

Both online courses are hosted on the Moodle learning platform.

This general online course is also available in Swedish (Förebyggande av självmord) and Finnish (Itsemurhien ehkäisy).

Target Audience

THL’s Suicide Prevention online course is intended for social and healthcare professionals and students in these fields. However, the modules are also useful for volunteers and others interested in the topic.

Note: The Suicide Prevention for EMS Professionals course is available only to EMS students or professionals.

What You Can Expect from Us

As a participant, you will receive research-based, up-to-date information and practical tools for encountering and caring for a person at risk of suicide.

Fees

The online course is free of charge.

How to Register and Contact Us

Register and log in to THL’s online learning platform before starting your studies. With one login, you can access all THL’s open online courses.
Studying the modules of the Suicide Prevention online course does not require separate enrolment.

Help With Technical Issues

For registration or login problems, contact: verkkokoulut(at)thl.fi
For questions about the content of THL’s Suicide Prevention online course, contact: pia.solin(at)thl.fi
When reporting a problem, include your name and the email address used for registration. Describe the issue as clearly as possible. You may also attach a screenshot.